To the Editor:

This is in reference to the “Speaking Out” in The Tidewater News (“How do you feel about the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to require everyone to have health insurance,” July 1).

It is my understanding that the Supreme Court declared part of President Obama’s health care program constitutional. That is all the court did.

This means that under the president’s Health Care Act, one has the options of taking out health insurance or be penalized through taxation. The court’s decision did not require anyone to take out insurance.

However, as a result of the court’s ruling, President Obama’s affordable health care program can be implemented. Personally I am in favor of health care reform.

I think it is something that is greatly needed. When you consider the fact that people have been denied health insurance because of pre-existing health conditions, and people’s insurance policies (when they needed them most) have been canceled because of some illness, this should be grounds enough to justify the need for insurance reform, let alone other situations that attest to the same.

I also think the health care industry should concentrate on preventive measures when it comes to certain health issues before the illness becomes a reality. This will significantly lower the overall cost of health care. It is cheaper to prevent an illness than it is to cure.

Clyde Johnson
Franklin